Thread: Mixing it up....different teachers...same dance??

Hi Girls,

I was talking to a gal pal who has started salsa and she has been doing it for like 6 months now and has decided she needs to take 2 lessons a week. I was saying how I felt the same and that I would love to have lessons twice a week instead of one. I did enquire about this and was let down by another teacher in the area who has relayed this information back to mine. I was enquiring because I wanted 2 lessons and not another teacher...anyway sorry I digress (spelling??)....I have decided I personally do not want 2 lessons a week now as I have college one night too and I want to give 100% to both and I might get sloppy with my dancing if Im tired.
It got me thinking though when advising my buddy on her situation....is it really a good idea to have 2 lessons a week with 2 different teachers?? Surely to me it would confuse things...maybe in salsa it wouldnt be as bad because you go with your partner so you help each other but I dunno if I could go to 2 different teachers who may have conflicting ways of teaching things...
once again emma here finds some kind of hassle in the world of bellydance...,r:;

I take lessons in three different styles - AmCab, Egyptian, and Turkish - every week. If anything, each helps me to be better at the other. Though the movements are similar, oftentimes they come from different muscle groups to achieve a different feel. By being able to control all of these groups, I have a much better idea of how everything works.

It makes me think of learning a foreign language - you invariably end up learning more about your native language in the process and your grasp on the concept of language is better overall.

Here is the difficulty in the position you are in - you are still new, so there is definitely a greater opportunity for confusion if you have two different teachers who teach two different styles of belly dance. Because you don't yet have a really strong foundation.

But. . .

By the same token, taking from more than one teacher gives you the bonus that you have more opportunities to explore other styles and expand your understanding of belly dance.

Personally, I can't do just one class a week. Its not enough for my muscles to learn something. even with practicing at home to reinforce what I have learned. Personally, I prefer two classes in a row 2 - 3 times a week. But this is just what I have found is optimal for me and my learning curve. When I first started, I was taking 3 - 4 classes a week.

Good luck!

{{{HUGS}}}

I started taking from two different teachers this year. One is tribal fusion, the other is Egyptian-based cabaret.

It is tricky. However, it's a lot easier, IMO, than taking the same style like if I took 2 lessons from 2 different Egyptian cabaret teachers.

Yes It is a good idea if it fits in with your life especially after you have been dancing for say a year.
I loved classes with Kharis, my first teacher and went to her twice a week. When she stopped one class after 2 years I went to another teacher as well. Both had different styles of teaching and I found that very useful. Both were Egyptian style and the second was also interested in tribal.
I think it might have been a problem trying to learn say Egyptian and Turkish style dance and I would say get a grounding in a "traditional" belly dance before exploring fusions.
But variety is the spice of life and the more you put in to this dance as in everything else the more you'll get out.
I would think very few of us only went to one teacher and most teachers will say you don't want to rely on just one anyway.

PS I think this would apply to most dances or activities you take up but I can only answer for belly dance.

Like all things in life there are pros & cons.

Pros:
Experience different teaching styles
Each teacher will have strengths
Could prevent a student from over-associating with one school
Two classes per week!
Twice the opportunities to participate in a community

Cons:
The teachers are likely to do things differently, and each will expect you to do it HER way in her class
Some insecure teachers are threatened by students taking with someone else
You won't know for sure which differences are a matter of style and which ones are the individual teachers.

I think if you can do it with an open mind, not needing one way to be right, it can be a great experience.

hmmm well seeing as I am a complete beginner who really needs to learn tons I will stick with my once a week...build up my basics and then do 2 lessons maybe in a year or so. Im going to some workshops...i know I am only starting but because I watch ATS every day either on youtube or dvds. I think my husband is sick to death of fat chance and blacksheep but he does not complain when I do my sharon kihara drills hehe he like me finds he the most beautiful woman ever!

Just a general statement for anyone contemplating taking from two (or more) different teachers at the same time:

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, WHEN IN ANY ONE TEACHER'S CLASS, DO NOT TALK ABOUT ANY OTHER TEACHERS' CLASSES.

If you have a question about differences in the teaching of movement between Teacher A and Teacher B, you should discuss it privately with the teacher. If you want to discuss anything about the Teacher B's class, bring it up privately.

It's one thing to say during class, "I saw this move last week at the Shimmy Goddess Dance and Health Expo -- can you tell me about it?" Or "I have this DVD with Jillina and she does this really cool thing . . . " It's quite another to blurt out "In my other class, you know, the one with Sally Shake-Those-Hips at the Rec Center in Kalamazoo . . . she said to do a back figure 8 like this."

I guess it really is about allowing the teacher of whatever class you take to teach his/her class.

Deborah

Depends on where you are in your journey. Initially it could be confusing if the two teachers had wildly different approaches - or alternatively one teacher might be able to get across something that the other cannot and vice versa.

Longer term I think it is a good idea so you experience a range of dance and teaching styles (nothing worse than the student who has only ever had one teacher and is wedded to the "one true way").

However, you need to do more than just attend classes - you need to work on what you have learnt at home. Do you have time for two sets of homework?

From my own experience, I spent a year on the basics with one teacher and practiced like mad in between classes. My lovely teacher gave me a gentle push that I needed to get into beyond beginner classes, and encouraged me to try other teachers in order to round out my education. So after that I was doing 2 - 3 classes a week, all with different teachers. As I became more serious I was doing 5 or 6 classes week, yes with a full-time job but not in a serious relationship, no time ..l;,

I feel it really did round me out and helped to me find my own style in the dance and music choices. I have so much respect for my teacher that she encouraged me to do this, there are too many teachers out there who are fearful of outside influences.

And please heed the advice of Casbahdance, when you are taking from different teachers don't waste everyone's class time nattering on about what your other teacher(s) does. Observe the differences quietly in your own time and discuss them privately if you need to.

Thank you for this thread! I've been thinking it's time to take more than one class a week, but with my class and work schedule it would make it nearly impossible to do that with one teacher!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by fatinah_bellydance

Hi Girls,
I did enquire about this and was let down by another teacher in the area who has relayed this information back to mine. I was enquiring because I wanted 2 lessons and not another teacher...

once again emma here finds some kind of hassle in the world of bellydance.

God, I'm gonna sound like a confused old fuddy-dud, so break this down for me nice and slow.

What did you say that made the second teacher contact your first one? That seems really odd!

I don't understand why your friend thinking that she's ready for two classes a week is a hassle for you in the world of bellydance? I'm kinda confused as to what the hassle is?

This is why festivals and workshops are so useful to dancers. As long as you pick tht right level of instruction and JoY at least grades the workshops ( not that everyone takes notice, sadly or has a realistic vision of their ability but that's another matter)
Unfortunately we have a derth of local workshops these days and when they are organised for one reason are another they are not well patronised.
I have an opportunity to have an internationally well known teacher come to our area..I just hope I can drum up the interest. there are only so many who do want to step beyond their local weekly class.

Oooo - who is it - and make sure it's a date I can come Liz!

I don't see the issue at all with going to more than one teacher. I positively encourage my students to do that - but then again I will only endorse teachers who I know practise in a safe way. (better not get into that debate in this thread). If I don't know them then I say just that I don't know.

The reason I think it's a good idea to go to different teachers and workshops is about developing your own style. There is a danger that if you only ever train with one person you become a clone - the more teachers you have the more different ways of learning, styles etc you are exposed to.

Now before everyone shouts at me I know you can expose yourself to this through workshops, DVD's etc and if you live in an area with only 1/2 teachers that's what you have to do. But in Merseyside, UK you have lots of really good teachers.

I learnt there and at one point was going to 4 classes a week all with different teachers (and yes I work full time). I think that helped me explore my different learning prefernces, helped with things I just wasn't getting with one person but another just explained it differently and that suited me. As teachers we all have strengths and weaknesses and work better for some people more than others. Most of us understand that and would not be upset with people taking classes with another teacher. It also helped me to find out a way of being me and developing my own style because I was exposed to so many different ways of dancing, all good, whilst I was learning - that can be very inspirational.

Originally Posted by casbahdance

If you want to discuss anything about the Teacher B's class, bring it up privately.

And please leave the editorial comments for your blog or whatever.

As a teacher, it DOES NOT thrill me or fill me with self-satisfaction to hear about how other teachers in town "suck" or how their students "suck." Actually it makes me sad. I'm sure I speak for most teachers here when I ask that if you're a student, you PLEASE refrain from sharing your opinions about the quality of the students (or the teaching) in Teacher B's class.

I have an opportunity to have an internationally well known teacher come to our area..I just hope I can drum up the interest. there are only so many who do want to step beyond their local weekly class.

Ooooh who is it? I'm scaling back a bit on workshops due to petrol costs but this is down the road. I could definitely be tempted.

Having moved around a lot and also had a teacher of the 'Thou shalt have no other teacher than me' persuasion, I've had some experience of moving between styles of tuition.

Generally, I think it is a positive thing because I believe that as human beings we are inherently fairly lazy and the danger with one teacher is that you will relax to the point of horizontal in terms of policing your technique in their class.

On the other hand many of us do not have access to more than one teacher locally and so have to travel to attend multiple classes. At the moment I attend my regular weekly class with my teacher and (when I can afford the petrol) a once-a-month workshop with Kharis in Manchester. I find that this gives me a very balanced perspective and allows me to learn from two very different teachers and is stimulating without creating a 'complete headspin' situation.

As a teacher, it DOES NOT thrill me or fill me with self-satisfaction to hear about how other teachers in town "suck" or how their students "suck." Actually it makes me sad. I'm sure I speak for most teachers here when I ask that if you're a student, you PLEASE refrain from sharing your opinions about the quality of the students (or the teaching) in Teacher B's class.

I forgot to say in my post that I totally agree with this. Nothing wrong at all with going to lots of different teachers - it really helped me. But as a student I would not and did not complain or make comparisons in another teacher's class and I would hate it if anyone did that either to me or in the class I teach. I think sometimes students think they are demonstrating loyalty by putting down another teacher they have tried but this never feels like loyalty to me - it just makes me wonder what they are saying about me at the other class (maybe I'm just paranoid!) Constructive feedback is great but needs to be done direct to the teacher or it's really just b****ing.

If asked by a student or fellow dancer who is considering going to another teacher I will offer an honest opinion based on experience or just say 'I know teacher x teaches here but I haven't had any feedback on her style or teaching technique'. I will also give as comprehensive a list as I can about other teachers in the area or places to go for information and always say the best way to find someone who suits you is to talk to them and try out their classes and judge for yourself.

I think Khadiya's idea is a good one about supplimenting your weekly class with monthly workshops, like Kharis's. If you can't get to Manchester how about a monthly or bi-monthly private lesson with another teacher - that's something else I did in the past because the teacher I wanted to go to did not teach a weekly class, so I had a private lesson as and when I could afford it.

I absolutely agree with the others, that if there is any discussion of another teacher's technique/style is a private conversation between student and teacher, not in front of a class. You are there to learn FROM her! I think teacher should always ask that a student do it their way in their class.

But at the same time there needs to be some degree of respect for what a student has learned from other teachers. My eyebrows always raise at the phrase "the ONLY proper way to......". Frequently, I find this phrase followed how much to use your knees in a shimmy or how to hold your arms. But considering some of the stuff being taught in the name of belly dance, I imagine it must be hard for a lot teachers knowing where to draw the line and tell a student "i'm sorry, but your previous/other teacher was incorrect", instead of "this is the way I/we do this".

Back to work!
Meredith

Originally Posted by Meredith

I absolutely agree with the others, that if there is any discussion of another teacher's technique/style is a private conversation between student and teacher, not in front of a class. You are there to learn FROM her! I think teacher should always ask that a student do it their way in their class.

But at the same time there needs to be some degree of respect for what a student has learned from other teachers. My eyebrows always raise at the phrase "the ONLY proper way to......". Frequently, I find this phrase followed how much to use your knees in a shimmy or how to hold your arms. But considering some of the stuff being taught in the name of belly dance, I imagine it must be hard for a lot teachers knowing where to draw the line and tell a student "i'm sorry, but your previous/other teacher was incorrect", instead of "this is the way I/we do this".

There are but a few things in BD that are "correctly" done only one way; I would advise any student to run away from teachers who, to quote Meredith, use the phrase or any variation thereof, "the ONLY proper way to . . ." very often.

I always say, "I choose to teach how to do this movement this way" with an explanation. For example, there is no bouncing up and down in my beginner classes. Hip lifts, drops and traveling steps are to be smooth as glass. Why? Because newbies have to learn to control and isolate their bodies. Bouncing up and down on hip lifts mean that the standing knee is not still, therefore the student is not in control of nor isolating the body parts in use. I tell them that once they have absolute control of the movement, then we can start playing with them; IOW we can bounce when we are bouncing on purpose, in response to music -- this is a skill a new student just doesn't have yet.

I think taking from more than one teacher is a blessing, but I would advise anew new student to heed Kashmir:

"Initially it could be confusing if the two teachers had wildly different approaches - or alternatively one teacher might be able to get across something that the other cannot and vice versa.

Longer term I think it is a good idea so you experience a range of dance and teaching styles (nothing worse than the student who has only ever had one teacher and is wedded to the "one true way")."

I think it's advisable to take from one teacher for at least a solid 6 months before branching out. The exception to the "rule" is if one's teacher just isn't doing the job for the student for whatever reason; in that case, don't stick around!

Deborah

Thanks for all this girls :) Ozma..the hassle is that I have a 9-5..volunteer once a week...babysit once a week...dance once a week after summer and will be embarking on a post grad course once a week...i really want to fit in a second night but a)im mental busy and b) my hubby is already kinda annoyed by the amount im never home as it is...some things are just not worth the compramise...its only a small insignficant dilemma but it makes a nice change from having a huge drama :) so yeah....thats my hassle...albiet a small one :) The world of bellydance only comes in because since I have started I have encountered...bitching...backstabbing (word of mouth)....becomming skint heheheh dvds music and videos all cost :)
But....I wouldnt stop dancing for the world :) I love bellydance

i think a class once a week and your own follow up of it at home, your practise drills and your own improv sessions should probably cover what you want for a while. all the best and happy dancing

Originally Posted by fatinah_bellydance

....thats my hassle...albiet a small one :) The world of bellydance only comes in because since I have started I have encountered...bitching...backstabbing (word of mouth)....becomming skint heheheh dvds music and videos all cost :)
But....I wouldnt stop dancing for the world :) I love bellydance

You're new. There's no reason for any of the bitching, backstabbing bull to be anywhere actually near you. Sure, you're aware of it...but the best thing you can do at the start of learning the dance is to put "getting involved in drama" bilnders on and focus on your learning. Enjoy the HELL out of the fact that those dramas are not you problem! Dodge those hassles and dramas. Don't seek them out or worry too much about them. Right now you get to focus on you! embrace it.

I'm not saying to be ignorant. The gossip about local dancers isn't affecting you dirrectly, is it? Let it roll. Watch and learn, quietly. On-line forums? Maybe sit-back and watch a bit more before you decide something is a drama. Fusion wierdness? Read what people have to say but take none of it personally because, well, you're not doing fusion right now...nor do you seem to be embarking on it.

Annonymity has its priviledges.

One of the hardest things to learn about being part of the larger BD dance scene is knowing how and when avoid drama...and when to get involved....but right now you you need to sponge up the knowledge...and let it settle in, multiply...or ferment..or whatever...and that getting to sponge and sponge time is sooooo wonderful!..g.:

You'll figure out what works for you in regards to schedule! We can give you some advice about how to schedule,learn,and budget... but so much of it will so subjective, varying from dancer to dance, teacher to teacher, and location to location. Learning what your personal learning style is is just that.... "personal"

Goodluck!